Senator Lesser Calls On Residents to Attend State Rail Plan Public Meeting in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is holding its only public hearing on the 2018 State Rail Plan in Western Massachusetts on Friday, and Senator Eric P. Lesser is encouraging residents to attend to have their voices heard.

“The 2018 State Rail Plan is in draft form until the public comment period closes on February 19. If you support a study to look at the costs and benefits of a rail link connecting Springfield to Boston, you need to let MassDOT know so that they can see the support this has in Western Mass,” Sen. Lesser said.

Sen. Lesser held a press conference on Monday to announce the inclusion of an east-west rail study in MassDOT’s State Rail Plan as a “major breakthrough” in a years-long effort to get a study completed. At that conference, he noted that the 2018 State Rail Plan is a draft, and is currently open for public comment until Feb. 19.

He told residents that making their support of a study known to MassDOT was “vital at this moment” to ensure that it is included in the final published Plan.

Sen. Lesser will attend MassDOT’s public meeting on the draft State Rail Plan, which is being held at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and calls on residents to join him:

WHAT: MassDOT will hold its only announced public hearing in Western Massachusetts on the 2018 State Rail Plan. Public comment on the Plan closes on Feb. 19.